WISE — The University of Virginia’s College at Wise is the top public liberal arts colleges in the nation whose students graduate with a low debt load, according to the latest issue of U.S. News and World Report’s annual college guide.
The UVa-Wise Class of 2011 completed their degrees with less debt than students at any of the nation’s other public liberal arts colleges and ranked No. 3 among the nation’s liberal arts colleges when private colleges are included.
UVa-Wise has consistently ranked among the top in the student debt load category. The magazine’s annual college guide hits newsstands next week.
Half of the UVa-Wise Class of 2011 graduated without any debt, and the average amount of debt for UVa-Wise graduates who used student loans totaled $10,180 in 2011.
“With the third-lowest debt among all national liberal arts colleges and the lowest debt among public national liberal arts colleges, graduates from UVa-Wise have the ability to provide for themselves and the community upon graduation instead of providing for their student loan,” said UVa-Wise Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration Sim Ewing. “The efforts of the college to control costs while providing an aggressive student aid package is clearly demonstrated in the average student debt decreasing by 31.2 percent in 2011 over 2010.”
Rusty Necessary, the college’s vice chancellor for enrollment management, said the ranking shows a deep commitment by scholarship donors and others at UVa-Wise.
“At UVa-Wise, we are always concerned about affordability. Our financial aid team works diligently to help students cover their college expenses, looking only to borrow when all grant, scholarship and work opportunities are exhausted,” he said. “Having access to a high-quality academic program, dedicated faculty and staff, and first-rate facilities at less than half the national average indebtedness of college graduates speaks volumes about the UVa-Wise experience.”
In comparison, the liberal arts college with the largest average student debt in the magazine’s latest rankings — $55,240 — is Burlington College in Vermont.
“With only 1,600 full-time students, small classes, an attractive residential campus and individualized attention, UVa-Wise is a very special institution,” said Sanders Huguenin, UVa-Wise provost and vice president of academic affairs.
“Actually, there are a lot of schools in America like UVa-Wise. Unfortunately, the vast majority are pricey private institutions that are beyond the reach of many Americans,” Huguenin said. “UVa-Wise combines the personalized, small college education of a private school with reasonable public university tuition and an impressive scholarship endowment. That truly makes us the small liberal arts college that anyone can afford.”
In the recent rankings, UVa-Wise continues to be listed among the nation’s top public liberal arts colleges. The nation’s 266 liberal arts colleges — most are private — emphasize undergraduate education and award at least half of their degrees in the arts and sciences.
Other area colleges appearing in the U.S. News and World Report 2013 “America’s Best Colleges” rankings include Milligan and Carson-Newman colleges.
In the “Regional Colleges in the South” classification, Milligan was ranked sixth overall, third among “Best Value Schools,” and sixth on the “A+ Schools for B Students” list.
Carson-Newman is ranked 12th among “Best Colleges in the South” and is in the top 10 in the publication’s “Great Schools, Great Prices” section.
“We are always encouraged by laudatory rankings, but what pleases us most is the reality behind the ranking,” said Randall O’Brien, Carson-Newman president. “Coupled with our receipt of the President’s Award for General Community Service earlier this year, this citation of our academic strength confirms that we are fulfilling our mission to be ‘intentionally Christian, academically rigorous, student-focused, and future-minded.’ On top of that, we have once again been championed as offering a good deal on a great education.”
